On Sunday, WestJet flight attendants initiated a strike over a pay dispute, leading to widespread flight cancellations and significant disruptions at airports across Canada during a busy holiday weekend. The walkout began at 2:01 a.m. EST after negotiations between WestJet and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 8125, which represents about 4,400 flight attendants, broke down. By midday, over 600 flights had been canceled nationwide.

The core issue centers on wages and compensation for ground duties — work performed before takeoff and after landing. Flight attendants argue they perform up to 35 hours per month without pay under the current system and are seeking additional compensation for this work. WestJet proposed a contract that included a 12 percent increase labeled as a “duty pay premium” intended to address unpaid ground time, along with annual wage increases. CUPE 8125, however, deemed the offer inadequate and called for further negotiations.

Despite the strike, talks between the parties resumed on Sunday. Cameron Jones, CUPE’s recording secretary, stated at a picket line in Calgary that the union’s bargaining team aimed to close gaps in the negotiations and reach a fair agreement that would allow flight attendants to return to work.

The strike echoed a similar situation faced last summer when Air Canada flight attendants, also represented by CUPE, went on strike over comparable compensation concerns. That strike, which defied a government back-to-work order, lasted three days and ended with a tentative agreement including partial ground pay provisions and multi-year wage increases, though union members later rejected the deal. The federal government imposed binding arbitration in that case.

The walkout led to chaos at airports, with travelers stranded or scrambling to rebook flights. Among those affected was Meshach Baba, who ended up sleeping on the floor of Toronto Pearson International Airport after his connecting WestJet flight was canceled twice. Other Canadian carriers, including Porter Airlines and Air Canada, reported increased bookings as passengers sought alternative travel options, though capacity remained constrained during the peak summer travel period.

John Gradek, a McGill University expert in aviation management, noted the dispute highlights broader challenges in how flight attendants are compensated. WestJet currently uses a “credit hour” system that links pay to flight length but aggregates various duties and delays into a single hourly rate, ranging from about $29 to $54 per credit hour. This system, Gradek said, tends to benefit senior employees more while leaving newer flight attendants financially strained. He cited examples from U.S. airlines like Delta, American, and Alaska that have introduced pay for ground work as a contrast.

Financially, Gradek estimated WestJet could be losing $8 million to $10 million daily due to the strike, factoring in the costs of rebooking passengers on other airlines at premium rates. Despite this, he noted WestJet declined a federal government loan in June, indicating relative financial stability.

Regarding government intervention, he expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of back-to-work orders under Section 107 of the Canada Labour Code, citing last year’s experience with Air Canada flight attendants who ignored such an order. Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion Patty Hajdu issued a statement expressing disappointment over the failed talks but did not indicate whether the government would seek to intervene.

The ongoing labour dispute underscores persistent tensions in the aviation sector, prompting calls for a reevaluation of pay structures and labour relations to prevent frequent disruptions that affect travelers and the broader economy.